In their self-titled debut album, The Pinkerton Raid presents a collection of songs that reach a level of mastery in communication between band members that is unusual in debut albums.
The songs on the album are well produced and polished, unlike the work some folk bands produce that lean towards low-fi recording techniques.
From the full, drawn-out notes that make up the rhythm to the crisp, short notes that make up the more pronounced riffs, every instrument can be heard clearly.
The bass and drum combo that becomes almost jazzy at times is accentuated well by the insertion of simple yet powerful rock guitar riffs and piano. These simple riffs and the rhythm sections come together perfectly in “Those Curves,” a spacey rock song with jazz undertones.
The Pinkerton Raid successfully “hugs the curves” of the road between a lack and an excess of sound.
Lyrically, songwriter Jesse James DeConto spends time developing stories with his lyrics and avoids the pitfall of getting lost in philosophy.
In the middle of these stories, songs like “Piano Queen” become fully entertaining and it is easy for the listener to become completely involved.
In “Piano Queen” DeConto tells the story of his strange interaction with a pianist. He doesn’t get lost in why the interaction was so strange, but instead tells an entertaining story full of all the details that a listener wants to know.
“Piano Queen” is one of most well put together songs on the album. Thought-provoking lyrics and melodic music meet in the middle of the song to create one of the most enjoyable fusions on the album.
